Pit pass: Dragon drivers miss rookie program while waiting for OK to switch to Chevy

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There was no sign of Dragon Racing on Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Cars for rookie Katherine Legge and Indianapolis 500 returnee Sebastien Bourdais did not participate in the Rookie Orientation Program as team owner Jay Penske works through separating from Lotus and signing with Chevrolet.

Penske could not be reached for comment, although he met with IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard about receiving the required approval to switch manufacturers midseason. Bernard said IndyCar could not intervene.

"We can't get in the middle of this dispute," Bernard said. "They have a contract with Lotus."

Team manager Bharat Naran said the crew working out of a Zionsville shop does not know when it will get Chevrolet parts. Some in Gasoline Alley on Thursday estimated it will take Dragon at least two days to make the change.

"I don't know about that," Naran said. "We've never installed one."

The first Lotus got on the track Thursday, reaching a top speed of only 186.387 mph. For Jean Alesi, who last drove a Formula One car in 2001, the 18 laps were his first on an oval track.

Alesi avoided a late-afternoon media interview, but a spokesman for his team, Fan Force United, said the 47-year-old Frenchman was too busy to talk.

Alesi's car No. 64 was the third chassis produced by Dallara. It served as the Lotus test car in the early stages of engine development.

Fan Force United took control of it earlier in the week after securing the Alesi sponsorship program. After a couple of hard days of preparation, the car was ready to go.

To Fan Force United's credit, the crew is loaded with IMS experience. Greg Beck, who has entered cars in the 500, is a veteran chief mechanic, and engineers Mike Colliver and Tim Wardrop have been on race-winning teams here. Special assistance is coming from Owen Snyder, a Dallara employee who won the 500 as Al Unser Jr.'s chief mechanic in 1992.

Famous last name

Emerson Newton-John, the nephew of singer/actress Olivia Newton-John, makes his IMS debut today in the Indy Lights test. It was destined to happen.

Newton-John's mother, Rona, gave him the name after watching Emerson Fittipaldi win Formula One championships. Fourteen years later, Fittipaldi and Emerson Newton-John met at an IndyCar race in Long Beach, Calif.

Newton-John attended the 1989 Indy 500 and was close enough to victory lane to catch a Chevrolet hat thrown to him by Fittipaldi.

"I thought it was pretty cool that a guy with my name won the race," Newton-John said Thursday. "I wish I still had that hat. I had it about a year and lost it."

He is the son of the late actor JeffConaway, best known for roles in "Taxi" and "Grease." Newton-John drives the second Lights car of Fan Force United.

Andretti to the rescue

The promotion company owned by Michael Andretti landed a deal to stage the Baltimore Grand Prix.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Sept. 2 race was in jeopardy of being canceled without a strong promoter. Andretti's company also is promoting next month's Milwaukee race.

Etc.

Danica Patrick landed a new deal to endorse Coke Zero, which should increase her visibility even more. "It's going to be really cool to walk into a grocery store and see those very iconic cardboard stand-ups and I'll be the one holding a Coke Zero," the NASCAR Nationwide driver told USA Today. . . . Bryan Herta Autosport has been confirmed as a Honda team. It started the season with Lotus. . . . Simon Pagenaud's first laps at the Speedway included the striking of a bird, which caused damage near the radiator. . . . Helio Castroneves turned 37 on Thursday. . . . Wade Cunningham's program at A.J. Foyt Racing is being watched by an addition to the team's program: Larry Curry, who is best known for his work with Team Menard in the 1990s.

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Pit pass: Dragon drivers miss rookie program while waiting for OK to switch to Chevy

There was no sign of Dragon Racing on Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Cars for rookie Katherine Legge and Indianapolis 500 returnee Sebastien Bourdais did not participate in the Rookie